New Music Reviews: Ryan Adams, Sugababes, Leona Naess and Keane!

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology
Wow, this is a terrific album! While Ryan Adams' last two cd's, Easy Tiger and the ep Follow the Lights, were great stuff, Cardinology is superior to both. These new songs are incredibly mature and sensitive, soul-searching as always, but also in many cases reaching out to the listener with a little bit of wisdom to apply to life's journey. One example of this occurs on the first track, "Born into a Light," wherein he sings, "to everyone alone, I wish you faith and hope / And all the strength to cope / To be your own best friend, have confidence and keep the faith." Thanks, Ryan!

Of course, it wouldn't be a classic Ryan Adams album without some heavy devastation and despair, which are offered up in equal measure in songs like the wounded "Fix It" ("I know it's not a game / but it feels like losing when someone you love throws you away"), and the lonely "Crossed Out Name" ("I feel like a page with a crossed out name"--ouch!)

But again, these delightfully depressing songs are juxtaposed with flashes of hope, such as the romantic "Cobwebs," and even the somewhat melancholy "Let Us Down Easy" which yearns for a gentle disappointment rather than a crushing let-down.

Every song on this cd is amazing; I've talked about a few of my favourites, but let's not forget the rousing single "Magick," in all of its Fleetwood Mac-esque glory, the complex metaphors of "Sink Ships," or indeed, every song on the cd!
Best tracks: "Born into a Light," "Fix it," "Cobwebs," "Let Us Down Easy," "Magick"
10 pink flowers out of ten

Sugababes - Catfights and Spotlights
(disclaimer: expect to see the word "perfect" several times!)
The Sugababes have outdone themselves again with their amazing new cd! As is the current trend in British music, the 'babes have infused their new songs with a '60's vibe. Due to their lush harmonies and perfect combination of classiness and sassiness, the Sugababes are able to seamlessly weave the motown sounds into their tracks, making the transition seem effortless.

Every song on the cd is perfect, but some of my favourites are the romantically masochistic "You on a Good Day," the rather philosophical ballad "Unbreakable Heart," the sweet and peppy "Nothing's as Good as You," the very unique "Every Heart Broken" (I can't think of many other artists that could come up with, or pull off, a song like this) and the utterly bad-ass "Side Chick." Now, if you are familiar with my complaints regarding recent hip hop music, "Side Chick" is an example of a perfect hip hop flavored pop song. It's cool, fresh and fun--and--unlike most American hip hop songs of late-- you don't have to dig through piles of vocoder to hear the vocals, getting plenty of other unnecessary sound effects under your belabored fingernails in the process. All this, and it also has lyrics like "pulling all kinds of trickery, tryin' to get in my knickers." Uhh, what more do you need?

Feisty Keisha and charming Heidi are as fantastic as ever, and I'm also proud of the progress Amelle has made with this cd. She's known as the tough street chick whose boyfriend was attacked with a machete, but there are songs on Catfights and Spotlights where Amelle is so unexpectedly vulnerable-- see "Unbreakable Heart," or the very poignant closing track "Can We Call a Truce?" for key examples. Of course, Amelle also put pen to paper to create the bitter and confrontational "Beware," but I have only gratitude for a lyric like "in the event that we should meet, I recommend that you cross the street." Succinctly threatening, Amelle has matured with her cattiness intact--referring us back to the album's title. Once again, the Sugababes have reset the bar for all pop music!
10 pink flowers out of ten, obvi!

Leona Naess - Thirteens
It's been a long wait, and now we have another album from this excellent singer-songwriter. While Thirteens isn't quite as brilliant as its predecessor, Leona's self-titled cd from way back in 2003, further confirmation of her genius is in fine display once again. Starting off with the wistful "Ghosts in the Attic" (featuring, as several songs on Thirteens do, lovely mandolin accompaniment by Nickel Creek's Chris Thile) Leona becomes more merry with the bar anthem "Leave Your Boyfriends Behind."

My favourite song on the cd might be the wisdom-infused "Learning as We Go," filled as it is with gorgeous lyrics like "just don't lie to your heart / this will be the hardest part." "No Name" is a titleless song which pays pleasant tribute to romantic bliss. "Not the Same Girl" is incredible, and somewhat indescribable--it must be listened to!

The rest of the songs are all quite good, if just a little predictable, as they closely follow the sound and melody of Leona's past work. There isn't as much originality on Thirteens as there has been on her previous albums, from the rock-pop-folk smorgasbord of Comatized, to the electro-bliss of I Tried to Rock You but You Only Roll, or the vast highs and lows of the self-titled album. However, if you are a hardcore Leona fan--like me--you are sure to love Thirteens despite its distinct safeness. It's a great cd, and I hope we don't have to wait five years for the next one!
9 pink flowers out of ten

Keane - Perfect Symmetry
The excellent Brit pop-rock act returns with another superb cd! Keane has experimented a bit with their sound, venturing outside of their usual better-version-of-Coldplay sound and striking it rich with an intense new sound that is quite enticing. One obvious example of their evolution is in the uber-poppy, yet deep and humanity-damning single "Spiralling." As the first track, it's a perfect introduction to Keane's refreshing new twist on their style, and is followed up by "The Lovers are Losing," which is simply classic Keane at their most melancholy and (hence) enjoyable. "You Don't See Me" is a gorgeous, slightly '80's-esque lament, sure to be one of the most memorable tracks on Perfect Symmetry. I'm also quite fond of "You Haven't Told Me Anything," the perfect "oh, snap!" to that person in your life who always points out your mistakes, unsolicited.

Some critics snipe about the supposedly repetitive way in which Keane canvasses the theme of love on the vast majority of their songs. But there are surely enough intricacies to the emotion to supply plenty of variety. After all, as Keane remind us on the final track of the cd, "Love is the End"!
9.5 pink flowers out of ten